Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 103 - 81: Elbow Bursitis_2

This year, the Lakers were trying to defend their championship title. O’Neal was important, but Kobe’s condition was just as crucial.

In comparison, an exhibition like the All-Star Game was completely insignificant.

Standing before Chen Yu, especially under his sharp gaze, Kobe felt inexplicably uneasy.

Besides, Chen Yu was the one who had performed surgery on his idol, Hardaway. This was no ordinary doctor.

Chen Yu beckoned for Kobe to sit down for the physical examination. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

First, the left foot.

"Does it hurt?" Chen Yu asked as he rotated Kobe’s left foot.

Kobe gripped the edge of the examination table, his body tensing involuntarily, and then shook his head.

’It’d be a miracle if it didn’t hurt,’ Chen Yu thought.

Still, his ankle didn’t have any major issues.

The structure was sound. There was some muscle damage and minor inflammation, but they were all small problems.

The same went for his shoulder and hip flexor—just minor muscle issues.

Physical therapy and rest would be enough to resolve them.

His elbow, however, was another story.

Chen Yu’s gaze fell on Kobe’s right elbow.

He held Kobe’s elbow, performed an internal rotation test, and then asked if it hurt.

"It doesn’t hurt." Kobe shook his head again.

This time, it didn’t seem like he was faking it.

The pain was probably not that severe yet, still at a tolerable level.

But under the Eye of All-Seeing, Chen Yu had already seen the truth.

There was inflammation in the bursa of his elbow joint.

It likely wasn’t acute, which is usually caused by spraining the elbow.

In this case, it was most likely caused by athletic overexertion, such as taking too many shots during shooting practice.

"Do you do a lot of shooting drills in your daily training?" Chen Yu asked casually.

Kobe was taken aback for a moment. ’Didn’t I sprain my ankle? Why is he asking about my shooting?’

Thinking it might be related to his shoulder problem, he nodded and said, "A lot."

’Only about a thousand a day.’

Chen Yu remained silent. ’That’s more than just "a lot." That’s an insane amount.’

"Go get the scans," Chen Yu said, stopping the examination and motioning for Kobe to go.

Chen Yu added the elbow to the list of areas to be examined.

When the test results came back, Kobe asked impatiently, "Dr. Chen, my body’s fine, right? I feel great. I can still play."

Beside them, Kupchek instantly frowned.

’What the hell is wrong with him? We’re trying to get you to rest, and here you are, asking to play.’

Shooting Kobe a look to shut him up, Kupchek interjected, "Chen, his left foot is a serious problem, isn’t it? During team practice, he was constantly saying it hurt."

But Kobe completely ignored Kupchek’s look and retorted, "When did I ever say it hurt? I’m fine now."

Kupchek felt his vision swim, barely managing to stop himself from cursing out loud.

Chen Yu studied the two of them. It was obvious there was something fishy going on.

’So that means the earlier media reports about Kobe having a severe injury and being unable to play in the All-Star Game were fake, too.’

’The Lakers management must just not want him to play in it.’

Clearing his throat to get their attention, Chen Yu said, "Kobe, your ankle, shoulder, and hip don’t have any major problems."

Kobe’s eyes lit up. "So I can play in the All-Star Game?" he asked eagerly.

"But."

Chen Yu’s tone shifted as he pointed to Kobe’s elbow. "Your elbow has developed bursitis. You must have been feeling a dull ache there recently, haven’t you?"

Kobe froze.

Kupchek and Lombardo, who had been racking their brains over how to proceed after Chen Yu said Kobe’s issues weren’t serious, were also suddenly stunned.

Elbow bursitis?

Both men simultaneously looked at Kobe’s right elbow, their faces filled with confusion.

They hadn’t known about this.

Lombardo in particular had never heard Kobe complain about elbow pain during daily practices.

Chen Yu ignored them and said to Kobe, "You have chronic bursitis. This is a more troublesome issue, likely related to your excessive training. Combined with your other injuries, I believe it’s necessary for you to rest for two to three weeks to resolve these problems completely."

They were all minor injuries that he could play through, but if left untreated, minor injuries would eventually become major ones.

For the sake of his long-term health, Chen Yu felt a period of rest was necessary.

’Perfect. This is exactly what my player health management department is for.’

"Two to three weeks?" Kobe’s eyes widened.

Kupchek, meanwhile, felt like he was on a roller coaster. Just moments ago, he had been afraid Chen Yu would say Kobe was fine and cleared to play.

He quickly said, "Kobe, Chen is a medical expert. Just follow his diagnosis and take some time off to rest."

With the All-Star break in the middle, two to three weeks of rest would only mean missing a few games.

Given the Lakers’ current record, it wasn’t like they were in danger of missing the playoffs.

Getting healthy to defend the championship was the most important thing.

"Then it’s settled. I’ll report this to the league later," Chen Yu said, not wanting to say any more.

He had, at the very least, ensured one of the West’s top vote-getters could play, so he considered the task Stern had given him fulfilled.

Just as he was about to write a prescription for Kobe, Kobe suddenly exclaimed, "No! I can’t rest!"

He quickly got up and rushed in front of Chen Yu. "Chen, I’m begging you, don’t make me rest. My body is really fine! Or, how about I just rest for one week? At least let me play in the All-Star Game."

Kobe held up one finger, looking extremely anxious.

On the way here, Pelinka had told him that whether he could play or not wasn’t up to the team—it was up to Chen Yu.

Chen Yu frowned at Kobe.

’It’s just one All-Star Game. It can’t be that important, can it? Insisting on playing while injured...’

Kupchek quickly chimed in, "Kobe, Chen is here representing the league. He’s the head of the player health department. He’s telling you to rest because he’s responsible for your physical well-being. You should listen to him."